NYC Parks received a sizeable grant from NY State to reconstruct the swimming pool at Tompkins Square Park (Capital Project 10826) and decided to expand the scope of the project to also renovate the basketball courts and the fitness area. The fitness area (and the basketball courts) are perfectly fine, heavily used, and do not need renovation. Actually, a renovation is likely to make the area worse for the people who use it (it has happened before).  So we ask NYC Parks and Council Member Harvey Epstein to remove the fitness area & its equipment from the scope of this project, ensure the space remains accessible during the pool reconstruction, and direct the money where it will do good instead of doing harm.

The fitness area serves a large community of users, including people of every gender, age, income, race and fitness level, who meet year-round, all-weather, day and night. The equipment is well-known among calisthenics practitioners, and many travel to train there. 

Danny Kavadlo, one of the world’s leading authorities on calisthenics, nutrition and personal training, makes it clear: "Tompkins Square Park is a beacon of fitness and community in New York City. People of all backgrounds and walks of life all use the fitness area to get stronger, fitter and more resilient. Over the past decade or so, with the rise of social media, the iconic bars of TSP have become world famous to an international audience of calisthenics athletes and fitness practitioners. It would be a tremendous disservice to the community (as well as to public health) to make any changes to this historic playground"

In addition to staying healthy, people who work out there make friends, build community and keep the area safe and welcoming. In March 2026, the New York Times T Magazine documented one such community, who convene by the bars between three and seven days a week. Its organizer, Jack Greer, explained the value of that place: “As you get older, you see less of your friends. This is the happiest, healthiest way to catch up on gossip and life.” 

Please do not "fix" what is not broken.